In-depth: Does Daniel Sturridge hold the key to Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool's season?

The 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Saturday brought a few notable landmarks for the Reds. They scored more than one goal in a game for the first time this season, and scored three for the first time since February.

There was a first goal for James Milner too, as he appears to be getting into his stride as stand-in captain in place of the injured Jordan Henderson.

But the real story was to be found elsewhere on the pitch, as Sturridge's first goals since March - sumptuous finishes both - propelled Liverpool to a much needed three points.

His goals also saw him break a new record, becoming Liverpool's most prolific striker in Premier League history.

Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres. Liverpool have an illustrious roll-call of strikers in the Premier League era, but surprisingly Sturridge tops them all with the highest strike rate.

No one is questioning Sturridge's quality, and no one doubts that he was hugely missed as Liverpool limped to a sixth place finish last season. But the scale of his influence on Rodgers' side has not been fully appreciated.

The struggle for goals last season played a big part in the fall from second to sixth, yet much of it was pinned on the departed Suarez. Since his move to Barcelona the Reds have scored more than three in a game only once, a 4-1 win over Swansea in December 2014.

The second place finish in 2013-14 has, similarly, been credited to the Uruguayan who scored 31 goals, with the contributions of the supporting acts forgotten.

Of all the supporting acts that year - including Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling and Rodgers - Sturridge's contributions have perhaps been neglected the most. He scored 21 goals in the Premier League that season, helping form one of the most potent strike forces in the league's history.

But the injury nightmare of the past year has pushed him to the back of people's memories. Instead he is now a liability who cannot be trusted to be fit for longer than a few weeks. Of course Liverpool missed Suarez last season, but the loss of a fully fit and firing Sturridge was a hammer blow, and one that had not been prepared for.

After missing five months of the season his fleeting return between January and March offered a glimpse of Sturridge operating at 60% of his capacity. His pace was down, his anticipation was not there and it affected his game - he could not finish with authority and he could not influence the game in the same manner.

After a quiet return against Norwich last weekend, where he snapped at a chance in the first-half instead of taking his time, he toiled for an hour against Villa.

But within eight minutes he reminded everyone of his ability. The first goal, a delicious left-foot volley, was the type of effort he could not pull of last year, the type of finish he wouldn't have attempted if still plagued by the doubt that injury can cause. The second showcased his relationship with Philippe Coutinho, his speed over five yards and his dead-eye approach for finding the bottom corner.

Psychology plays a big part in footballers' recovery from injury lay-offs with hesitancy and mistrust of your body becoming common. After the injuries that have rocked his last 12 months - to his thigh, groin and hip - he appeared on Saturday to be returning to a level near his peak.

A peak fitness Sturridge will allow Liverpool to be more aggressive, to attack more and stretch the play. He brings the best out of Coutinho and there is great potential in his partnership with Christian Benteke.

In a Premier League top goalscorer poll before the start of the season Sturridge came behind Radamel Falcao, showing just how far his reputation had plummeted. But at 26 years of age he still has a lot of fuel left in the tank.

A consistent run in the first-team between now and Christmas could save Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool's season. Seldom has one player been so vital to a team's fortunes, and seldom have so few appreciated that.